Teen dies after swimming with friends beneath one of Britain’s biggest waterfalls

A TEENAGER has died after swimming with friends beneath one of Britain’s biggest waterfalls.

16-year-old Curtis Atherton tragically died after swimming at High Force near Middleton-in-Teesdale

Curtis Atherton, 16, was pulled from the River Tees by a fire brigade rescue boat crew after getting into difficulty while swimming at High Force, near Middleton-in-Teesdale, in County Durham, on Tuesday evening.

A major rescue operation was launched last night after the alarm was raised at 8pm when the boy, from Hartlepool, who was swimming in the pool area below the waterfall, got into trouble.

Police, fire crews, air support and mountain and fell rescue attended and a search of the river was carried out before the teenager was located at around 9.45pm.

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He was airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where he sadly later died.

Five other teenagers present at the scene, three boys including Curtis’ brother and two girls, were not injured.

Four fire appliances and the emergency rescue boat from Bishop Auckland were in attendance, along with members of the Hazardous Area Rescue Team (HART).

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The teenager was swimming with friends beneath one of Britain’s biggest waterfalls

Pete Bell, team leader at the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team, said: “As I believe it, four lads were swimming around the High Force area and one got into difficulty - major difficulty.

This is a devastating incident and a stark reminder of how a fun afternoon swimming with friends can end in tragedy

Det Insp Andy Crowe

“The other three got out and raised the alarm. It was a multi-agency turnout and we had about 14 team members and two of our canoe group.

“He was subsequently found by fire and rescue, recovered and taken to the police helicopter and has been flown to James Cook.”

When he was found Mr Bell said the youth was “in the water and some distance from the bank”.

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Emergency services were alerted of the danger at 8pm when the boy got into trouble

“The conditions were pretty typical of the time of year,” added the rescuer.

Det Insp Andy Crowe said “This is a devastating incident and a Stark reminder of how a fun afternoon swimming with friends can end in tragedy.

“My advice is simple; do not swim in open stretches of water such as this as the dangers are often well hidden.

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He was airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where he sadly later died

“As well as the deceptively cold water temperatures which affect people’s ability to swim, there are many hidden hazards lying beneath, such as strong currents and discarded rubbish or rocks.

“Curtis’s family would like to thank everyone involved in the efforts to locate Curtis on Tuesday evening.”